Friday, March 26, 2010

Last October we went to Guwahati (capital city, state of Assam) from Delhi(India). Our flight path took us parallel to the mighty Himalayas (the highest mountain range in the world). The weather was clear and could manage some shots of the snow covered ranges peeping out amidst fluffy cotton clouds.

Next day we ventured in the outskirts of the city, a few pics from the countryside which attracted out attention with varying vibrant colours of nature.

Father's garden too, it appeared, laid claim to the vibrancy of its varied habitat it hosted. A Coppersmith barbet (bird) too called it home, in trunk of a beetel nut tree.

Beetel nuts in the garden. These trees are very common and popular here. A beetel is chewed after being extracted from its fibre coat. It is commercially available in dried, cured and fresh forms. While fresh, the husk is green and the nut inside is so soft that it can easily be cut with an average knife.In the ripe fruit the husk becomes yellow or orange and, as it dries, the fruit inside hardens to a wood-like consistency.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Situated in Morigaon district of Assam, the northeastern state of India, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is a major wildlife attraction. Covering an area of 38.8 Sq. km.Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is about 50 km from Guwahati(the capital of Assam).Though much smaller than Kaziranga national park( in the same state of Assam), Pobitora has a much higher density of animal habitationPobitora is famous for its great Indian one horned Rhinoceros. Besides Rhinoceros the other animals are Asiatic Buffalo, Leopard, Wild bear, civet cat etc. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to more than 2000 migrator birds and various reptiles.The sanctuary is best visited from November to March.During the Indian monsoon season(rainy season),most of th grasslands of the santuary are submerged in water for weeks,forest guards switch from elephant backs to boats as their preferred mode of transport to patrol the forest borders.

Reached the park after a short drive from the capital city of Guwahati,weather gods however were unrelenting,sky was overcast after rains and visit inside the park was called off. Had to sit out near the forest office till darkness was overwhelming and had to check in to a nearby lodge.The shutterbug in me tookover and resulted in a few shots below.Elephant handlers who to take tourists inside the park had spare time for some maintenance of their vehicles (elephants!).

Water lilies floating nonchalantly in the water.

The night was long and as I waited for the first sign of daybreak. This bug was too noisy and shot it down(with a click of a camera )!

Finally daylight dawned, the fresh dew on the ground and Common hoopoe(bird) by the dirt track on the way to the park, was welcoming. Desperate to enter the wildife park, an opportunity which comes once a year during my annual holidays, the elephant it appears took notice of my distress so did the forest guard and mahut(elephant handler),we hurried in.

A view of grasslands.

Wild Buffalo shot from Elephant back.

A wild boar making a guest appearence from the dense undergrowth.

The Indian Rhinoceros or the Great One-horned Rhinoceros or the Asian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis).It is a large mammal primarily found in north-eastern India and Nepal. It is confined to the tall grasslands and forests in the foothills of the Himalayas.The rhino stands top in the list of poachers for its horn, which some cultures in East Asia believe has healing and potency powers and therefore is used for traditional Chinese Medicine and other Oriental medicines.

They are known to be very aggresive and protective about their young. It even charged at

our elephant. Missed the shot, as I was precariously balanced with one hand on the rope of the elephant and the other hoding the camera and the elephant taking evasive action. the mahut made a large sound from a bell to deter the rhino with her young.